The Eve of the Return
The women's bath at the hot springs of Edfolk Rothen.
Yulia, Jane, and Melo had gathered there to soak the weariness from their bodies, and Herbena was with them—she had flown through the night and was a breath away from catching a cold.
Everything was new to Melo. She sat in the water and looked this way and that, and what seized her attention above all else was the statue of a woman pouring into the very bath where they rested. The colossal stone figure rose nearly to the ceiling, and from the jar in its hands hot spring water slid down in a smooth cascade and spilled into their pool. Melo found it endlessly wondrous. Her lips parted just a little, and she stared for a long while.
"It's huge!"
"Do you mean the statue, Melo?"
"Yes. It's so big! And beautiful."
"It's a work by Master Audes. Father put a great deal of care into it."
Melo's eyes went round.
"C-care... You don't mean this place is..."
"Yes. These hot springs belong to our Edfolk family."
She hadn't known until that very moment. Melo went rigid all over and even dipped her mouth into the water. Yulia, finding it adorable, stroked her head.
"How cute."
Jane and Herbena sat with their eyes half-lidded, loose with drowsiness. Skadi was nothing like them. She floated in the cold bath, gliding through the water in smooth, easy strokes.
"Lady Skadi, aren't you cold? It's freezing outside. You ought to soak in the hot water."
Yulia looked at her with an expression that said she was cold just watching. Skadi turned toward them, unhurried and graceful.
"I'm rather resistant to the cold. And warm tea in a place like this is absolutely perfect. Melo, how about it? Want to dip your feet in?"
"N-no."
Melo gave a small shake of her head and snapped her gaze away. Skadi laughed under her breath, begged Yulia's pardon, and took a sip of the tea she had brought.
A little later Melo was watching the bubbles that popped up through the water, eyes wide with wonder. Yulia gathered her close and explained in a calm voice.
"Melo, the bubbles are fascinating, aren't they?"
"Yes."
"That's because it's a carbonated hot spring. The carbonated water here in Roten is of the highest grade. Isn't that right, Jane?"
"Yes, that's right. I was thinking of mentioning it to Young Master later and taking some with us."
"It isn't only the springs. There's cold carbonated mineral water as well, separate from the baths. It's quite famous in the region."
"I should have tried some at lunch."
"There will be a chance at dinner, too."
Even soaked through, Yulia carried herself with unmistakable grace. Something about it left Herbena faintly cowed, and she quietly put a little distance between them.
"This is so amazing!!"
Melo kept poking at the bubbles. Just then Skadi remembered something, drifted closer, and spoke.
"Oh, right—Jane! You're basically the one running the potion shop, aren't you?"
"Yeah. It just sort of happened. I only manage it, though."
"Oh, it suits you really well. What's the shop called?"
"Young Master told me to decide, but I have no idea."
"Call it Jane's Potion Shop."
Jane's mouth flattened into a line.
"No."
"...That's the first time I've ever heard Jane tell someone no."
Herbena, quiet until then, grinned. She thought for a moment, then added:
"How about White Forest?"
"Hm?"
"It's drawn from your surname, Foresti. White comes from your hair..."
Yulia nodded and looked at Herbena.
"Oh, I like that, Herbena. A forest feels fresh. It would leave a good impression on the customers."
"Thank you."
The praise seemed to embarrass her. Little by little Herbena sank until, just like Melo, only her eyes showed above the water.
"I-I got homework from Young Master too..."
Melo's voice shrank, as if she had only just remembered. Jane pulled her into a hug.
"I think Greenhills would do."
"C-can I really use my surname?"
"I don't think Young Master would mind."
"Hee..."
Melo brightened at the thought of her own name on the sign, and Yulia added, as if it had just occurred to her:
"You could even simply call it Hills. Easier to remember."
"I-I like it!"
Listening to all of this, Skadi abruptly found the whole thing strange.
"Hold on. Why are we sitting in a hot spring naming Blow's restaurant and potion shop?"
"Right?"
"Even in the carriage it was nothing but that—uh, grape-maple talk. The entire way."
Jane, for whom this had grown so familiar she no longer even found it odd, let out a small laugh.
"Young Master is so passionate about it. It's nice to see."
"Still! We came here to have fun. Come on!"
"From what I can tell, working is what he enjoys most."
Yulia had been listening in silence. She pressed the tip of her index finger gently into her cheek.
"Young Master Blow has a way of lingering in one's thoughts, doesn't he?"
"......"
At her words they all went quiet, glancing at one another. Skadi looked over everyone huddled together in the bath, then pouted.
"That guy's luck is ridiculous."
Silence settled. Curiosity got the better of Melo; she dipped just the tips of her toes into the cold bath, then scurried back to the hot one.
From across the way, Herbena, who had been sunk in thought for some time, carefully asked Jane:
"Um... about Young Master's dream, the one from earlier. May I ask what that was?"
Jane gathered what Blow had said at the monastery about the department store and laid it out for them, clear and orderly. Skadi's eyes went round as she listened. For some reason Herbena's gaze dropped. And when Liz's part of the story came up, Melo's face lit, and she shouted loud enough to make the whole bath ring.
"Young Master is so cool. I'm going to work really, really hard!"
"He is a little cool. I'll give him that."
Jane said it while splashing water over Melo.
"Young Master Blow certainly has a gift for moving people."
Jane nodded, recalling the bold proposal Yulia had made earlier. Yulia turned toward Skadi and Herbena, both of them sitting quietly, sunk in the bath.
"Herbena, Skadi?"
"Yes, Senior."
"Have you spent all your mana today?"
"Yes. We flew here, so a light session before dinner should be enough."
"Ah, I was so scattered today I let it slip my mind entirely. If you wish to train, you may use my practice room whenever you like. I'll tell the staff."
"Thank you for the consideration."
They answered in unison, and Yulia offered them a soft smile.
"Not at all. You're my juniors. I'm only doing what I ought to."
With that she rose from the bath. Marchen, who had been waiting, quickly wrapped her in a towel.
"I'll be going ahead. I have a schedule."
"We'll see you later, my lady."
"Yes. At dinner."
Yulia gave them a nod and left. Melo stared openly at her retreating back and murmured:
"...The indigo sister— no, my lady is so soft."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Mischief stirred in Skadi.
"Softer than Jane or Herbena?"
"Skadi!"
"Jane's super soft too! Jane is white! Herbena is..."
Melo wasn't actually that close to Herbena yet. She dodged the eyes fixed on her, and her voice dwindled.
"Purple really suits her... it does..."
"What? You just changed the subject."
"So what."
Even so, Herbena looked at her as if she found her adorable.
Then Skadi casually shifted over into their bath and flung a handful of water she'd scooped from the cold pool straight at Jane. Jane jolted at the chill, shuddered once, and glared.
"Skadi!!!"
"Ohoho! Ice magic!"
"You're such a child sometimes, I swear!"
"There's a real art to teasing you. A different flavor from Herbena, you might say."
Jane and Herbena stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. Skadi, laughing at her ease, soon went limp in the hot water.
"It's hot..."
At that, Herbena summoned a magic circle into the air.
A cool breeze drifted from the circle. Everyone except Skadi hurriedly sank into the spring up to their shoulders.
"Oh, Herbena, are you doing this for me? Feels like we're outside."
"I like it this way."
"Maybe it's from soaking in hot water so long...? I think I'm getting hungry."
"Jane, I'll make you something tasty later."
Lined up together, offering a word each, they watched the sunset dye the sky outside red.
After the bath, Skadi and Herbena headed for the practice hall in the hotel basement, saying they meant to use a little magic. Melo and Jane came into the lobby, spotted Hans standing by the restaurant in the distance, and went over to see what was going on.
There was Blow Deblique, five glasses set before him, lost deep in thought. Jane approached and tilted her head.
"Young Master, what are you doing?"
"...Nothing."
"Hm?"
Jane looked back at Hans. He shrugged.
"Young Master said he wanted to taste the carbonated waters. He's trying everything we could get in the area."
"Carbonated water? Why?"
Blow looked at Jane as if the question itself were absurd.
"Why else? Carbonated water is romance!"
"Romance?"
"Haa. This one's a bit flat."
Jane was puzzled for only a moment before it clicked. She had remembered the notes on cola written in Blow's notebook.
"Does it not taste good?"
"The fizz is bland. Sweetness I can manage somehow..."
That was the trouble. Whether it was the mineral water or the spring water of Roten, there was carbonation, certainly—but set beside the drinks he had known in that other world, the sharp bite was plainly lacking. A light, faintly sweet taste, different again from lager. Something you could drink anytime.
Lager at home. Cola at the convenience store. Those two had been the twin team that carried him through the stale grind of that life. Grandpa, of course, had grumbled that his teeth would all rot, and that if you didn't look after them while you were young, you'd pay for it later.
Remembering that, Blow carefully tasted another of the waters set before him. They didn't bite. They were a little soft—closer to a milky cream soda than to cola or lemon-lime. Not that the Blow of now was in any position to be picky. If he could only make a cream soda, or a dairy soda, he would have sold his soul for the chance.
Even better. I'll make it myself and sell the hell out of it.
Then countless drinks popped into his head, fizzing and leaping.
"Hahaha!"
Hans and Jane startled at the laughter he couldn't hold in, and their eyes met. Melo, interest caught, picked one up and gulped it down, then sparkled.
"Whoa! It's so refreshing! It must be because we just came out of the hot spring! Young Master!!!"
"Does it strike a chord?"
"Yes!"
"And what if it were sweet on top of that? What do you think, Melo?"
"I think it'd be incredibly delicious."
She looked happy from the imagining alone. Blow, though, leaned back, laced his fingers behind his head, and said:
"Wonder if there's somewhere I can dig and sugar just comes out."
"If there were, sugar wouldn't be as expensive as it is. But if it's carbonation you want, there is a way to add it artificially."
"What!? Why are you only telling me this now?"
It was the most aggrieved Blow had ever looked. Jane's mouth went flat.
"...Because you didn't ask."
"Then we do it right now!"
"We'll need laboratory equipment. I'll try once we're in Caipol."
"Then let's take the strongest carbonated water they have here."
Jane shook her head with perfect composure.
"The bubbles will probably all be gone by the time we arrive."
"Still better than plain water."
"If we freeze it first, it should hold up a little better."
"I'll just ask Herbena! You really did attend school properly, didn't you, Jane?"
"Honestly."
He was so fervent that she had no choice but to nod.
"A few more ideas came to me, but let's talk about those in Caipol."
"And you said you wanted to rest."
"Guess I can't help it."
Jane had taken the seat beside him before she quite noticed, and it struck her how much time had already passed since they came up to Caipol.
"It really hits me now, how close the opening is."
"Now that you mention it, we ought to start hiring staff."
"Yes. The restaurant's getting bigger, too."
"The moment we're back, we start with interviews. You try some of this too. Hans, you as well."
"Yes."
They were all drinking the carbonated water together when a carriage drew up in front of the hotel, and two familiar faces came carefully inside. The instant Hans recognized them, his face lit and he waved.
"Linne! Rowbedi!"
They had been staring up at the chandelier on the ceiling in open amazement. They hurried over to Blow and bowed.
"Boss."
"B-Boss, hello!"
"You both made it. Leave your luggage with us and go hit the hot springs first."
"Whoa! Hot springs! Roten's famous for its carbonated springs, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Then I-I should bring some c-carbonated water back!"
"Why?"
"F-for an ex-experiment!!"
Linne pressed her hands together, eyes sparkling. Blow glanced at Jane beside him, then looked back at Linne.
"Linne, hmm..."
"Y-yes! Boss? Did you have something to say?"
"Never mind. We'll talk in Caipol. Go on—hot springs first."
"Yes!"
Blow watched her go with a meaningful smile. Jane, for her part, tried picturing Linne as one of his people.
...I'd better hide the Meow-Meow Potion.
Deciding that was the wiser course, she nodded where no one could see.
Two hours later, Melo—dead asleep, perhaps from the aftereffects of the bath—came outside rubbing her eyes.
"Whoa!!"
She couldn't help it. The moment she saw what waited outside, a grand feast had been laid.
"Melo! You're up?"
"Yes! What is all this? Jane!"
"Senior Yulia prepared it."
At her words Yulia, standing beside them, smiled brightly and laid a hand once over her heart.
The tables ran in one long row, set with ornate candlesticks. There was a salad heaped with salmon, a turkey roasted whole, and a beef stew said to be the signature dish of Roten. One amusing detail, though: the place of honor at the very center belonged not to the turkey, but to corn cheese.
"Corn cheese?"
"Jane made it."
"Jane's really good at this too."
"Oh, praise from Melo? I'm a little jealous."
Skadi, her hair tied up in a ponytail—fresh from the bath—stroked Melo's head as she said it. With Melo joining last, every one of them was gathered.
"Young Master, a word, if you would."
Yulia tipped him a look, and Blow rose at once. He stood at the head of the long table, the seat of honor, took them all in with a single glance, and quietly opened his mouth.
"You've all worked hard, and there's more hard work ahead. I'll save the long speech for the opening."
No sooner had he finished than Skadi lifted her beer glass.
Every glass went up, and the banquet began at once.
The food stayed on the tables, but people served their own plates and ate wherever they pleased. Yulia and Skadi had settled in front of the turkey and the corn cheese and were sharing a drink. Linne, Rowbedi, and Hans had claimed a table of their own. Jane and Melo ate by the window, watching the moonlight.
Blow accepted a glass of wine from Marchen, Yulia's confidant, and looked them all over. Far off, his eye caught Herbena picking at a few salads and barely eating. He took the seat beside her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Not to your taste?"
"No."
"Yeah? Then tell me. What's going on."
"....."
Herbena's eyes dropped. Blow added, gently:
"Hm? Herbena. Better to get it off your chest and drink happy, don't you think?"
"I'd like to step outside for a moment."
"All right. Let's."
The two rose and were heading for the door when Skadi, who had seen them, called out.
"Hey! Where are you going!"
"Going to fetch your booze."
She had been about to say something else, but then Herbena's expression caught her eye. Skadi swallowed the words and hastily swapped them for others.
"I'm drinking with Senior, so bring back the good stuff."
"Yeah. Don't worry."
Herbena and Blow went outside.
Jane had been watching Herbena's poor expression all evening, and she had watched Skadi let them go without another word. Suspicion rose, and she drew her brows together.